CNBC’s Jabari Young reports that former NBAer Jonathon Simmons will sign with the G-League:
In efforts to display he can immediately contribute to a #NBA roster, I’m told ex #Spurs guard Jonathan Simmons will sign with #Warriors G League squad in Santa Cruz. Simmons had two 10-day contact offers with NBA teams on the table as well @CNBC #SportsBiz pic.twitter.com/fq7Hey0yiY
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) February 24, 2020
Simmons last played in the NBA in 2018-19 with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers acquired Simmons from the Orlando Magic are the 2019 trade deadline. Following the season, Simmons was traded again, this time to the Washington Wizards in a deal designed to shed some salary off Philadelphia’s cap sheet.
Simmons is no stranger to working his way to the NBA from the G-League. He once paid a $150 fee to attend an open tryout for players trying to make the then D-League. Simmons made it and was allocated to the Austin Spurs.
After two years in Austin, Simmons was signed to a training camp contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He spent the next two seasons in San Antonio before signing with Orlando as a free agent in 2017. At the 2019 trade deadline, Orlando sent Simmons to Philadelphia, along with a first round pick, for former number one overall pick Markelle Fultz.
Players sign with the G-League itself vs individual teams. They are then allocated to teams through a variety of methods. According to Young, Simmons is expected to ultimately land with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Santa Cruz has a good track record of getting players called up to the NBA, which is probably what attracted Simmons to agree to play for them.
